Status Call Law and Legal Definition
Status calls are conducted by the courts to find out the status of the cases. In order to stay on top of a case, the judge requires the attorneys to regularly update the court. This is done at a "status call." Normally, only one attorney shows up in court and gives the judge an update of the case. However, in some states, failure of the petitioner to respond to the status call shall result in a dismissal for want of prosecution. After every status call, the case will be scheduled for another "status date" – usually one month in the future. The court likes to force the attorneys to come back and continually advise them on the status of a case so that things don't fall through the cracks.
Example of a State statute ( Illinois) discussing status call.
Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Cook. Co., R 13.4
(h) Status Call -- The number and frequency of automatic status calls during a calendar year shall be pursuant to order of the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division. Notice of the first status for any case shall be sent by the Clerk of the Circuit Court to the attorneys of record by postcard no less than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of said call and shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation and posted in the courtroom. All cases shall be called for status report no later than six (6) months after the case is filed. Failure of the petitioner to answer the status call shall result in a dismissal for want of prosecution.
Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Cook. Co., R 13.2 (i) All cases on the reconciliation calendar shall be called for status within one year, and if the matter has been on the calendar for twelve (12) months it will be dismissed or returned to the active calendar. If the case has been on the reconciliation calendar for less than twelve (12) months on the status date, then the court may continue the case on the reconciliation calendar for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months. Failure of the petitioner to respond to the status call shall result in a dismissal for want of prosecution.
